“Should have used it in the first place,” said the Ring Tailed Panther.  “They didn’t show much sense.”

The Mexicans were running the gun forward to a little mound, whence they could drop shells and shot over the edge of the bluff, directly among the Texans.  It was a far more formidable danger than the impulsive charge, and Bowie at once took measures to meet it.  He called the best rifle shots.  Among them were Ned, Obed and the Ring Tailed Panther.

“There are fifteen of you,” said the dauntless leader, “and your rifles will reach that gun.  Shoot down every man who tries to handle it.  The rest of us will attend to the new charge that is coming.”

The second attack was to be more formidable than the first.  The Mexican cavalry had massed anew.  Ned saw the officers, driving the men into place with the flats of swords, and he heard the note of a trumpet, singing loud and clear over the prairie.  Then his eyes turned back to the gun, because there his duty lay.

Ned heard the trumpet peal again, and then the thud of hoofs.  He saw the rammers and spongers gather about the gun.  The rifle of the Ring Tailed Panther cracked, and the man with the rammer fell.  Another picked it up, but he went down before the bullet of Obed.  Then a sponger fell, and then the gunner himself was slain by the bullet.  The Texans were doing wonderful sharpshooting.  The gun could not be fired, because nobody could live near it long enough to fire it.  Its entire complement was cleared away by the swift little bullets.

Off to right and left, Ned heard again the rising crackle of the rifle fire, and he also heard the steady monotonous beat of the hoofs.  He knew that the charge was still coming on, but Bowie would attend to that.  He and his immediate comrades never took their eyes from the gun.  New cannoneers, an entire complement, were rushing forward to take the place of their fallen comrades.  The Mexicans showed plenty of courage that day but the deadly sharpshooters were slaying them as fast as they came.  They were yet unable to fire the gun.  Nor could they draw it back from its dangerous position.  A second time all about it were slain, but a third body came forward for the trial.

“Greasers or no greasers,” cried Obed, “those are men of courage!”

But he continued to shoot straight at them nevertheless, and the third group of cannoneers was fast melting away.

“Some of you aim at the mules hitched to the caisson,” cried the Ring Tailed Panther.  “I hate to kill a mule, but it will be a help now.”

One of the mules was slain and two others, wounded, dashed wildly through the Mexican infantry, adding to the confusion and turmoil.  The last of the third group of cannoneers fell and the gun stood alone and untouched, the shell still in place.  No one now dared to approach it.  The dead now lay in a group all about it.  Meanwhile, the second charge broke like the first and the cavalry galloped wildly away.